Quantcast
Channel: NBC 7 San Diego - Top Stories
Viewing all 60603 articles
Browse latest View live

Sailors Sickened in Radiation Leak Meet Former Japan PM

0
0

Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi spent three days in San Diego hearing from sick U.S. Navy sailors. Many of them served on USS Ronald Reagan.

The sailors participated in Operation Tomodachi five years ago, providing aid to Japan after its earthquake and tsunami.

A magnitude 9.0-earthquake struck off Japan's shore on March 11, 2011 and triggered a devastating tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people. The ocean flooded the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant leading to a loss of the plant's cooling systems. Several explosions releasedn radiation into the atmosphere.

Many of the sailors say doctors refused to connect their illnesses with the radiation exposure.

“You have to experience it,” said William Zeller. “You have to experience the doctor telling you to your face. You have to experience the years of pain when everyone tells you ‘You know you’re fine.’”

More than 400 sailors, including the 10 who met Koizumi in Carlsbad, are involved in a lawsuit trying to reconcile the service members’ illnesses and the radiation exposure. Amidst politics and lawsuits, the sailors called Koizumi’s visit an incredible act of kindness.

“To see [our issue] move forward and to have the honor and privilege of such an esteemed individual show us concern, that may not have provided financial help, but it provided emotional support moving forward,” said Zeller.

Through a translator, Koizumi shared his thoughts.

“I realize this is not something that can be just skipped over and can’t be ignored any longer,” he said.

“Everyone played a role in not shedding more light on this problem. I recognize I bear some responsibility because I simply went along with expert opinion when I was Prime Minister,” Koizumi said.

Throughout his term as Prime Minister, Koizumi was a proponent of nuclear power. However, in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, he was one of the first to change his stance to an anti-nuclear position.

He ended Tuesday’s meeting with, “There’s a very famous proverb in Japan that says ‘Once you’ve recognized your own mistake you must act quickly. Don’t mess around anymore. Do it. Do something and that’s what I’m trying to do. Don’t wait to rectify your mistake.”

The sailors’ attorney said they have won their case against Tokyo Electric Power Company twice, however the company has appealed the judge’s decisions. It is still unclear how exactly the sailors will be compensated, but that is something Koizumi said he is actively working on.

The Department of Defense has established a registry that includes nearly 75,000 government-affiliated people who were on or near Japan between March 12 and May 11.

The Operation Tomodachi Registry includes a map that shows the estimated doses of radiation possible at specific installations and bases.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Police and Community Meet on Body Cam Policy

0
0

Nearly all law enforcement agencies in the country are moving toward using body worn cameras, with San Diego Police Department (SDPD) leading the way.

But up until very recently the footage from major incidents was not made available to the public.

Now District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Sheriff Bill Gore and SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman are crafting a policy that involves releasing body camera video of officer-involved shootings to the public as soon after the incident as possible.

Law enforcement leaders say the key is to put the video into context. Often the video will only show one angle and can be misleading.

"Before body camera use was prevalent, we had similar issues with cell video," said Sheriff Bill Gore. "Everybody's got a camera on their hips, it's their iPhone. But frequently what we saw is a confrontation developing between police and an individual, and then right at the moment, a use of force is employed, that's when the person pulls out the smart phone gets a picture that's completely out of context."

Gore says the context the videos will be released with includes witness statements, ballistic reports and other information, possibly surveillance video from other angles.

The agencies are at the forefront of the issue nationally with SDPD being one of the first to implement body camera video but then struggling with public pressure for access to the footage.

Many other police agencies in the U.S. post every video they record.

Some in the community say they still feel their questions are not always heard.

Only a small handful of community members were present at the meeting at Cherokee Point Elementary.

A representative from LAPD also attended the meeting to potentially model some of their policies after the ones being developed in San Diego.

City Attorney candidate Rafael Castellanos attended the town hall as well. The meeting is the second in a series of community meetings designed to receive input from the public.

SDPD Chief Zimmerman said the response from the community to the policy change has been overwhelmingly positive.

"I'm on board with it. I think it's the right thing to do," Zimmerman said. "We want to make sure there's a balance between the rights of the individuals involved in the incidents and some in the public who want to see the video."

Sheriff Bill Gore says there will be not be a set timeline on when videos will be released but the agencies will try to release it as soon as they can. It will also depend on whether there are no criminal charges or civil legal issues invloved. Also, if there is a potential civil issue, then the video will be released when the case is in court.

"Not releasing the body camera video defeats one of its key purposes, which is to build trust between the community and law enforcement," he said.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Escondido PD Seeks Suspect Trying to Lure Girls into Car

0
0

The Escondido Police Department is seeking information about a suspicious man who attempted to lure a teen into his car in the 1000 block of E. Washington Avenue on May 9th.

Police say a man, 40-50 years old, driving an older red convertible, attempted to lure a teen-aged girl into his car. He offered her money in exchange for directions. The girl did not get into the car and reported the incident to police.

A witness saw a similar man in a similar car speaking to another girl in the area. That girl did get into the car. The witness followed the car and believes the man noticed because he let the girl out of the car and sped away.

The girl was dropped off unharmed and while police are not linking these incidents to any other attempted abductions, investigators are asking for the public’s help.

The Escondido Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding the two incidents, or any other suspicious incidents involving the convertible, to call Detective Elizabeth Hundley at (760) 839-4965.

New Gaslamp Quarter Parking Plan

0
0

There's a new parking scheme coming to San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter -- targeting Friday and Saturday nights along 5th Avenue.

Anybody’s who’s been down there then, you know what a madhouse traffic can be.

The remedial plan is called an "active loading zone." 

On those party nights between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m., parking will be restricted to three minutes for dropping off and picking up passengers.

Any longer stop invites a ticket. 

And from 7 p.m. on, tow trucks could arrive on the scene. 

”You know, all this parking on either side of the street is not moving after 8 p.m.,” says Michael Trimble, executive director of the Gaslamp Quarter Assn. which spearheaded the measure. 

“Now (once the plan takes effect) it frees up all that parking so people can drop off,” Trimble told NBC 7 in an interview Tuesday. “We're talking about Uber and Lyft and limos and party buses that can get to right in front of all these establishments without any problems whatsoever." 

Gaslamp Quarter executives, hospitality and business establishments have been working on the weekend parking plan for more than a year. 

And Tuesday afternoon, it was approved by the City Council, to roll out in early summer with a grace period for a public information campaign and installation of signs. 

First responders are said to welcome the idea because their vehicles so often have been delayed in getting to emergencies. 

Will the scheme scare people away? 

Not if they're serious Gaslamp-goers, the thinking goes. 

There’s a feeling that a lot of folks will carpool with a designated driver-slash-parker who'll drop the others off and find free space or paid parking a few blocks away. 

“I'm okay with that,” says Scott Fisk, sales director for Pacific Magazine. “Sometimes my wife isn't, because she'd rather we walk as a family or together. But I don't see an issue. I know the Gaslamp well, I know where to go and where to park. And I'd rather her not walk -- especially with heels." 

In passing the "active loading zone" setup, the Council for good measure also extended the hours of several other tow-away zones -- also, mostly downtown, to the 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. time frame.

DOJ Releases Calexico Police Department Audit

0
0

More than a year after the top cop in Calexico compared his own department and city officials to the New York mafia, the U.S. Department of Justice has released the results of its audit.

Among their findings: Officers were choosing where they would patrol instead of being assigned, there were no cameras or logbook controlling the department's evidence locker and there was no clear policy on use of force options.

Former Calexico Police Chief Mike Bostic was moved to tears in December 2014 when he publicly accused councilmembers and the police union of corruption.

“Exactly like the Mafioso in New York. That’s exactly how they are operating,” the chief said.

After he was on the job for three or four days, Bostic discovered the investigations unit was not working any active cases. The same was true with the narcotics and internal affairs units.

Bostic called in the FBI just two weeks after he took the office in the small border town east of San Diego.

The report prepared by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) identified several key findings:

  • Instability in leadership
  • A lack of supervision and accountability
  • Absence of community policing practices
  • Poorly functioning Internal Affairs
  • No early intervention practices
  • Patrol operations lack resources and coordination
  • No crime analysis and information sharing internally or externally

COPS made 169 recommendations to help the community reestablish trust with its residents.

"The number and severity of the findings in this assessment reflect the need for the Calexico Police Department to overhaul its core operational systems," said COPS Office Director Ronald Davis.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

San Diego 8th Most Populous City

0
0

New figures released by the United States Census Wednesday night ranked San Diego the 8th most populous city in the nation. 

According to the U.S. Census, as of July 1, 2015, San Diego was home to 1,394,928 residents – and was also among three cities in California to gain the highest number of people between 2014 and 2015.

The Census shows that Vista – in San Diego’s North County – was among seven cities in the U.S. to cross the 100,000 population threshold between 2014 and 2015. Meanwhile, Poway crossed the 50,000 population mark – also among seven U.S. cities to cross that threshold.

The 15 most populous cities in the U.S., including San Diego, are as follows:

• New York City, New York: 8,550,405 people
• Los Angeles, California: 3,971,883 people
• Chicago, Illinois: 2,720,546 people
• Houston, Texas: 2,296,224 people
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 1,567,442 people
• Phoenix, Arizona: 1,563,025 people
• San Antonio, Texas: 1,469,845 people
• San Diego, California: 1,394,928 people
• Dallas, Texas: 1,300,092 people
• San Jose, California: 1,026,908 people
• Austin, Texas: 931,830 people
• Jacksonville, Florida: 868,031 people
• San Francisco, California: 864,816 people
• Indianapolis, Indiana: 853,173 people
• Columbus, Ohio: 850,106 people 

The U.S. Census says San Diego is also among the 15 cities with the largest numeric increase in population between July 1, 2014, and July 1, 2015, ranking No. 13 in that category. In that time span, San Diego grew by 12,677 people, the figures confirm.

Nearly 1 Million Mail Ballots Sent to Registered SD Voters

0
0

As of Tuesday, 925,522 mail ballots have been sent to registered voters in San Diego County, according to Mason Herron, District Director of the California State Assembly.

Out of that number 28,942 people have voted either by returning their mail-in ballot or through early voting, 3.12% of all ballots mailed.

By party, total returns are 38.6% Republican, 41.4% Democrat and 19.9% Independent.

The returns are based on data provided by the Registrar of Voters to Political Data Inc., and there is likely a one to two-day delay. 

California’s primary is on June 7.

Missing Mexicans' Classmate Seeks Asylum in US

0
0

A man who witnessed the disappearance of 43 Mexican students is now applying for asylum in Minnesota, NBC News reported.

Carmelo Ramirez Morales, a classmate of the missing students, spoke with a reporter at the Star Tribune about the night of Sept. 24, 2014, and his experience with local police and the threats he received for trying to share his story. 

In the interview, Morales said he went to the Iguala attorney general’s office to identify the officers involved when the students were taken away.

He is seeking asylum in Minnesota because of threatening voice mails he received directly after returning to Mexico. He will have to prove that he faces an imminent threat if he returns to the country.



Photo Credit: AP

China Intercepts US Military Plane Over South China Sea

0
0

Two Chinese military aircraft intercepted a U.S. military plane over the South China Sea Tuesday, NBC News reported.

The Department of Defense said the aircraft was flying in a “routine patrol” in international airspace when “two tactical aircraft” from China intercepted it.

China has been asserting its territorial claims over most of the South China Sea, which is believed to have large oil and gas deposits. The country has accused the U.S. of “militarizing” the area, to which Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

The incident is under investigation by the U.S. Pacific Command.



Photo Credit: AP

Canadians Affected by Wildfire Could Return Home Soon

0
0

Some of the 80,000 people forced to flee Fort McMurray because of wildfires may be able to return home on June 1, NBC News reported. 

The timeline is “conditional,” according to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who made the announcement on Wednesday.

According to Notley, residents will only be allowed to return if the fire no longer poses a threat, the hospital is open and all roads are reopened. Gas, electricity and 911 service must also be restored, and food and drinking water must be available for residents.

Those who live in the least damaged area will be allowed back first, while others could be back by June 15, Notley said. 

The city was evacuated two weeks ago after fire ravaged an area bigger than New York City.



Photo Credit: AP

USS Lake Erie Opens for Tours

0
0

The Naval ship USS Lake Erie will be open to the public at downtown San Diego's Broadway Pier this weekend.

The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser will be available for tours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All visitors in line by 4 p.m. will be accommodated for a tour.

The USS Lake Erie, homeported in San Diego, is the 24th guided-missile cruiser equipped with the AEGIS weapons system that uses powerful computer and radar technology to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets.

The ship was commissioned in July 1993 and was built to perform primarily in a battle force role.

The ship is capable of supporting carrier battle groups, amphibious forces or operating independently and as flagships of surface action groups.

The USS Lake Erie is equipped with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and has been outfitted with Ballistic Missile Defense Capability.

Visitors will be boarded on a first-come first-serve basis and may have to wait in line.

There will be a security screening, and it’s recommended visitors wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. All visitors over 18 are required to bring a government issued I.D., and people under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The ship is not handicapped accessible and visitors must be able to move about the ship and up and down steep stairways.

Eric Fanning Sworn In as 1st Openly Gay Army Secretary

0
0

Eric Fanning was sworn in Wednesday as secretary of the Army — the first openly gay leader of any U.S. military service, NBC News reports. 

The ceremony is another historic moment for the Obama administration and for groups who have pushed for gay and lesbian rights.

"It has been a long process to get here, one that I don't think even the writers from 'House of Cards' could have scripted if they tried," Fanning said after the swearing in, calling his appointment "a tremendous honor." 

Fanning was confirmed Tuesday by the Senate after holdout Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, opposed efforts to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. Fanning waited for eight months until Roberts lifted his hold. 

The move comes five years after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which prohibited gay and lesbian service members from being open about their sexuality.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Safari Park Welcomes 105th White-Fronted Bee-Eater Chick

0
0

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park welcomed its 105th White-fronted Bee-eater born at the park since the program began in 1993.

The 22-day-old chick just received a medical check and seems to be in good health.

The health check consisted of putting an identification band on the bird’s leg, weighing the chick and taking a non-flight feather to send to a lab to determine whether the chick is male or female. White fronted Bee-eaters are monomorphic, which means males and females look the same.

The chick lives in a custom-designed aviary at the Safari Park with the other recently hatched birds.

The bird, who weighs 43 grams, (about the same as a box of raisins) is one of 16 chicks hatched this season.

While not listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), White-fronted Bee-eaters are rarely found in zoos.

The Safari Park is home to the only breeding program for the birds in North America.

The birds are fed a diet of mealworms, waxworms and crickets. There are also two beehives in the aviary for supplemental feeding. The beehives also encourage “hawking”, when birds capture a bee in flight.

Bee-eaters can slow their flight to hover over the insect before catching them.

The birds are found in Africa and south of the Equator where they build tunnels in hillsides to lay their eggs.

Staff at the Safari Park have simulated hillsides and burrowing tunnels leading to nest boxes, so staff members can monitor the eggs and hatchlings.



Photo Credit: Safari Park
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Shapiro Admits to Trying on Gloves in Simpson's Trial

0
0

Robert Shapiro admitted to trying on the infamous glove at the center of the O.J. Simpson murder, noting that he knew it would not fit Simpson.

"I tried the glove on. It was a little bit wide in my palm and a little bit long in my fingers," Shapiro told Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. "O.J. Simpson has enormous hands, and I knew that the glove would not fit him. No question about it. Wouldn't even be close."

Shapiro, 73, was a member of Simpson's defense "dream team," which helped to acquit the once-beloved sports idol in the stabbing deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1994.

The FX miniseries, "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" shows Shapiro, played by John Travolta, trying on the gloves during a courtroom break. But Shapiro had never explicitly admitted trying on the gloves in past interviews, NBC News reported.

Shapiro also recalled to Kelly what Simpson whispered to him directly after the verdict was read: "You had told me this would be the result from the beginning. You were right."



Photo Credit: MICHAEL NELSON/AFP/Getty Images
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Camp Pendleton Marine's Son Receives Service Dog

0
0

One year ago, while Chris Simpson was undergoing heart surgery at a Seattle hospital, Zoe, a service dog, helped the teen through his recovery as part of a dog therapy program there. 

Wednesday Camp Pendleton hosted a ceremony to donate Zoe’s puppy, Potato, to Chris.

"Zoe helped Chris get through a difficult part of his life," said Shannon Simpson, Chris's Mother. "He would see Zoe on a weekly basis and Zoe was his incentive to make it to the next week each time."

Chris, 16, is the son of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bryan Simpson, the 62-area Officer in Charge at Camp Pendleton.

"It was an instant connection when Zoe met Chris," said James Skoor, a volunteer at the Seattle Children's Medical and one of Zoe's handlers. "He was an incredible sick little boy, and enduring three heart transplants over 16 years takes a tremendous toll on him. Chris fell in love with our dog Zoe, and it didn't matter how sick Chris was at the time, he would find the strength to come down and spend time with Zoe."

According to Skoor, as soon as he found out they could donate a service dog, they knew he had to have one. That is when they had the idea for Zoe to give birth to a litter of puppies with the intention of giving one to Chris.

Potato, a Shiloh Shepard puppy, will receive service dog training at Wounded Warrior Battalion-West to assist Chris in the future.

"Part of Chris's condition is that he usually wears a mask to prevent him from getting sick," said Simpson. "Potato will be able to help break that barrier and provide a way for people to initiate conversation with him."

Chris added that he really appreciated his time with Zoe and is thrilled to move forward and raise Potato.



Photo Credit: Cpl. Keenan Zelazoski

No 'Fundamental Split' in the Democratic Party: Biden

0
0

Vice President Joe Biden said he doesn’t believe there’s a “fundamental split in the Democratic Party,” NBC News reports.

Biden said he believes Sanders will back Clinton in the same way Clinton called for party unity when she lost the Democratic primary in 2008. 

"I'm confident that Bernie will be supportive if Hillary wins, which the numbers indicate will happen. So I'm not worried," he said. "There's no fundamental split in the Democratic Party." 

Biden also dismissed concerns that Sanders’ attitude has pushed his supporters to become more disruptive. The vice president did urge the Vermont senator to address outbursts like the one that took place over the weekend at the Nevada Democratic convention.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Man Believed to be "Hipster Bandit" Strikes Again: FBI

0
0

Authorities are asking for the public’s help to find a suspect who robbed a Union Bank and attempted to rob a Wells Fargo Bank Wednesday.

The man is believed to be the “Hipster Bandit,” who is suspected of robbing two banks on July 2, 2015, according to the FBI.

They dubbed him the “Hipster Bandit” because of the clothes and sunglasses he wore during his robberies last year.

The FBI says the “Hipster Bandit” walked into a Vons grocery store on College Boulevard near the 76 Freeway just north of Frazee Road in Oceanside and attempted to rob a Wells Fargo Bank around 2:12 p.m.

He gave the teller a demand note asking for cash but the teller refused to give him any money. The suspect then left the bank.

Around 2:20 p.m., the FBI says he went to the Ralphs grocery store on Old Gove Road just west of Mission Avenue. The suspect robbed the Union Bank located inside the store and took off.

He is described to be in his mid-20s or early 30s, approximately five foot three inches tall, with brown hair and a tattoo on his left upper arm. He is believed to have been driving a black motorcycle, wearing a black jacket and black helmet.

1 Injured in Bay Park Crash

0
0

At least one person was injured in a rollover crash in Bay Park Wednesday evening, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed.

The crash happened at 6:48 p.m. on northbound Interstate 5, near Grand Avenue.

One person who appeared to be seriously injured was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Scripps La Jolla Hospital.

A witness told CHP officers the vehicle was driving at a high speed and swerved before it crashed.

Vehicle Goes Off I-5, Lands in Lagoon in Carlsbad

0
0

One driver was injured when his pickup landed in the Agua Hedionda Lagoon along Interstate 5 in Carlsbad Wednesday.

A white pickup truck was speeding and weaving through traffic on the northbound I-5 after 7 p.m. when the driver crashed into a Honda Civic, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The driver of the truck lost control, flipped over, went down an embankment and landed upright into the lagoon.

He suffered major head trauma and was taken to the hospital. The driver of the Honda Civic suffered moderate injuries and she will be okay.

A person driving a boat went to help the driver, according to CHP. Another pulled over and ran down the embankment to try and help.

A Sig Alert was issued for the northbound number three and four lanes on the I-5. All lanes were back open as of 9:25 p.m.

CHP says the driver of the truck is suspected of driving drunk.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Wacky Finish Sends SDSU Men’s Golf To NCAA Championships

0
0

We rarely see an albatross on a golf course. It’s that rare double-eagle, which only happens when a golfer completes a par-5 hole in just two shots or aces a par-4.

At the NCAA Regional in Albuquerque, New Mexico, San Diego State’s Gunn Yang holed out for an unlikely albatross Wednesday with a 7-iron to help the Aztecs at a critical time against Texas A&M. The two teams were tied and on the first playoff hole with a spot to the NCAA championships on the line.

But Yang’s double-eagle was not the only impressive shot of the day. Or even that one playoff hole.

SDSU teammate Ryann Ree of Redondo Beach sunk an eagle on the same exact hole to help cement SDSU’s victory over the Aggies and give the Aztecs a spot in the NCAA national championships next week in Eugene, Oregon.

The 1st hole served as the dramatic playoff setting and Yang and Ree made it look easy on a par-5 that covered 544 yards from the tee to the cup.

Ree (+6) and Yang (+7) individually finished in the top 10 with Jon Rahm of Arizona State shooting the best score over three rounds (212/-4).

SDSU will be among the 30 schools and 156 individuals competing for the NCAA title. 

The field will compete over 72 holes in a four-day period in Oregon to determine the individual national champion.

After 54 holes, the top 15 teams along with the top 9 individuals not on one of those advancing teams will qualify for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match play.



Photo Credit: SDSU twitter/GoAztecs.com
Viewing all 60603 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images